23/04/2026
I can’t let Earth Day pass without honoring the cranes. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite images of Sandhill Crane and Whooping Crane that I have yet to share.
Sandhill Cranes, the most numerous crane species in the world, have a fossil record stretching back millions of years. Once pushed to the brink by unregulated hunting, their numbers fell to roughly 25,000 birds in the 1940s. Their recovery is one of conservation’s great successes. Today, they undertake one of the longest migrations of any crane, and up to 80% of the global population gathers along Nebraska’s Platte River each spring.
The Whooping Crane, the rarest crane in the world, tells a more fragile story. In the 1940s, only about 20 birds remained in the wild. Today, their population has recovered to just over 800 individuals, but progress remains uneven. While the Wood Buffalo–Aransas population continues to grow and captive breeding programs remain essential, other groups, such as the Eastern Migratory and Louisiana populations, have struggled. Most recently, two Whooping Cranes were illegally killed in Louisiana, a reminder that recovery is still not secure. There is much to celebrate in their return, but also much still at risk.
Thank you to the dedicated conservationists, researchers, and organizations working to protect cranes in the wild and in recovery programs. Wild birds in this series were photographed at and around Crane Trust , and captive individuals at International Crane Foundation. I hope you enjoy.
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